Can You Legislate Fairness?

It's not all that often that you see legislation designed to help the little guy, but a pair of our representatives in D.C. have proposed to do just that with what they call the Small Distilleries Fairness Act - HR 1172, a bill that purports to support growing small distilleries.

Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Washington) and Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) have introduced a bi-partisan bill that proposes to reduce Federal Excise Tax on small distilleries producing less than 100,000 proof gallons per year from the current $13.50 to $2.70 per proof gallon.

Congressman Rick Larsen

Since this is politics, there has to be some sort of pork barrel concession, so distilled spirits industry lobbyists are angling for introduction of a separate bill with language that will give a tax break to the first 100,000 proof gallons by a producer of any size. Such legislation may be more acceptable to the industry as a whole, insiders say.

We love the idea of giving undercapitalized micro-producers a leg up, but whether passage of the legislation would translate to a price break for consumers buying a bottle off the shelf remains to be seen. Until then, we'll stand behind labels such as Catoctin Creek who are taking matters into their own hands by remaining committed to marketing quality products at price points their customers can afford in spite of the machinations of an oft nonsensical tax system.

Weigh in on the matter by contacting your representative and voicing your support for America's micro-distillers!

View the language of the proposed legislation.

View the press release from Congressman Rick Larsen.